CBP officers catch smuggler at border with 80 AK-47 ammo magazines

A Mexican national was arrested Sunday night at the Port of Entry at San Luis for attempting to smuggle empty ammunition magazines for assault weapons out of the county and into Mexico.

According to a news release issued by Customs and Border Protection, CBP officers and deputies from the Yuma County Sheriff's Office were conducting outbound operations at the port when they referred an Oldsmobile being driven by Jose Angel Palacios Hernandez to the secondary inspection area.

Palacios, 20, of neighboring San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, was taken into custody after 80 ammunition magazines used for AK-47 assault rifles were located throughout his vehicle.

The vehicle and magazines were seized. Palacios was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.